A HEARTBROKEN animal lover has penned an emotional open letter to the owner of an emaciated dog found dumped on the street suffering liver failure.

Vanessa Waddon, founder and chair of trustees at Hope Rescue, wrote the viral rant after the rescue was forced to have an eight-year-old German Shepherd they dubbed Hannah put down on welfare grounds.

The 47-year-old and her colleagues at the south Wales charity believe Hannah, who was believed to have been suffering liver failure for months and had a waist so thin one hand could fit around it, was abandoned by her callous owner to avoid costly vet fees.

Hope Rescue is now urging anyone who knows who abandoned Hannah so this information can be passed on to the RSPCA.

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Ms Waddon said: "We can only assume Hannah was dumped in that condition so her owner could avoid paying vet fees.

"There is no way a dog in that state would have been able to even get herself out of the door to stray - she could barely walk.

"What is so heart-breaking is her suffering was so unnecessary.

"If we had been contacted about taking her in because of money problems with vet bills we always would have done."

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The emaciated dog was suffering from liver failure

Hope Rescue, which has provided boarding kennels and foster homes for thousands of dogs in the last 10 years, takes every single stray from three local authority pounds in south Wales.

Hannah was taken to the Dinas pound on Tuesday after a member of the public discovered her abandoned in a back lane in Clydach in the Rhondda Valley.

As well as suffering liver failure and incontinence, she had severely overgrown claws - the longest staff had ever seen - suggesting she was kept indoors or in a shed.

Hope Rescue volunteers attempted to find her a foster home but were told by a vet the most humane thing to do was to put her down.

Ms Waddon said Hannah's condition was not as a result of a short-term illness but would have deteriorated over time and the animal would have been in pain for most likely months.

She added: "Hannah would have been suffering for some time - liver failure and that level of emaciation is not something that happens overnight, it is a prolonged process.

"Most dog owners and animal lovers would do anything for their pet, and when it was their time to go we would do anything to make them better and ultimately have them back.

"Hannah was completely let down by the one person who should have been with her at the end of her life - her owner.

"But even when she was in so much pain, with liver failure, little use of her back legs and incontinence, she still had so much love to give - she probably even loved her owner.

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A rant written by Vanessa Waddon (pictured) has gone viral

"Having a dog is a lifetime commitment - dogs are susceptible to illnesses and you need to be able to pay for the necessary veterinary treatment."

The open letter, which has received nearly 2,500 likes and shares since it was posted on Wednesday, reads: "We don't know what her real name is - but you do.

"We called her Hannah so she had a name rather than the ID number she was given when she was admitted to the pound as a stray.

"She was too weak to stand so the pound staff made a bed from an old duvet for her to rest on - did you have a comfy bed for her?

"Her nails were the longest and most overgrown we have ever seen - and we have seen 1,000s of strays over the last 10 years.

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Sat, March 12, 2016

Crufts is one of the largest dog events in the the world, with thousands of dogs competing for the coveted title of 'Best in Show'. Founded in 1891 by the late Charles Cruft, the four-day show attracts entrants from around the world.

A baby with his with his St Bernard, 'Moltie Mallone' at Cruft's dog show at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington, London in 1937

"Her waist was so thin a human hand could fit around it.

The gentlest of souls obviously in so much pain - how could you have not noticed?

Vanessa Waddon

"Hannah gently licked our Rescue Manager's hand as she quietly stroked her, trying so hard not to let her tears fall on to her.

"The gentlest of souls obviously in so much pain - how could you have not noticed?

"We prayed that the vet would say we could save her, that we could move her to a foster home and that her life would change forever from that moment. But we were too late.

"Hannah's liver was in complete failure, she was incontinent and her back legs had gone completely.

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Hope Rescue manager Alison Ling hopes to find Hannah's owners

"We were left with no option than to let her go on welfare grounds, free from the pain and suffering.

"As we shed yet more tears, do you even care?

"Are you settling down for your tea tonight without a second thought for the dog you left to die?

"She could hardly stand and was too weak to walk so how did she get outside?

"We can only guess you finally dumped her after watching her suffer for so long.

"You should know just how deeply we cared about Hannah's plight, how the pound staff cared and the vet staff cared - was there ever a time you cared for her during her 8 year life?

"Sleep easy Hannah and we wish with all our heart and soul that you didn't have to end your life in a stray dog pound, so cruelly let down by the one person who should have been with you at the end - you."

If you have information about Hannah contact Alison Ling on enquiries@hoperescue.org.uk